Volatiles emitted from single flower buds of a Lilium longiflorum × L. callosum interspecific hybrid and its parents

This research was initiated to analyze the volatiles emitted from a single flower bud of Lilium longiflorum Thunb., L. callosum Sieb. et Zucc., and their interspecific hybrids L. longiflorum × L. callosum (L. longi × L. cal IH). Volatiles, collected automatically every 6-hour intervals at 20°C before anthesis and at anthesis, were analyzed using a coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The most abundant volatiles in L. longiflorum occurred at retention time (rt) 12.17 (peak 7) and rt 6.87 min (peak 3), and were tentatively identified as 1,6,10-dodecatrien-3-ol (nerolidol) and 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-octariene (ocimene), respectively, and sensory evaluation assessed the blend to have a pleasant fragrance. However, these peaks were not observed in L. callosum which produced a relatively low level of volatiles at rt 5.36, rt 5.84, and rt 12.31 min. Emission of volatiles from a single flower bud showed a diurnal rhythm peaking between 2000 and 0200 HR and also at anthesis. The level of volatiles released from L. longi × L. cal IH flowers was less than that from L. longiflorum, and no odor was evident by sensory evaluation. Mild and pleasant fragrance of L. longi × L. cal IH results from the inheritance of volatiles such as ocimene and nerolidol from L. longiflorum at a reduced level and the lack of production of volatiles that could produce odors.